Catalog (460)

Measuring 15.25 inches in diameter and 5.25 inches high, this magnificent and absolutely HUGE, C1920, Ohio-made, yellow ware, spongeware mixing bowl or water basin features fabulous blue sponging and is much more striking “in person” than the photos were able to capture.

The bowl sits on a 1/2” footed base and has a lovely turned edge rim. It has glaze crazing typical of an 85+ year old piece of pottery but no cracks, chips or hairlines. Remnants of gold gilt decoration along the rim still remain. Would be fabulous as receptacle for a very large plant or to hold a large water pitcher!

An outstanding piece of American Spongeware! Becoming much more difficult to find- particularly in this condition!

Please type the word "spongeware" into the Search box to find the other pieces of C1900-1920 Ohio Yellowware Spongeware currently being offered for sale. All pieces are prices separately.

Offered is a lovely and serene oil painting of an older black gentleman fishing by the riverside. The painting is done in a flowing, Impressionist style, with a masterful use of quick, loose brushstrokes and much natural light, which contributes to this peaceful scene. The artist then focuses on careful attention to detail in her execution of the lone fisherman.

The primary colors utilized are a tonal range of yellows, blues and greens suggesting a spring or early summer day. The gentleman is taking a quick look at his bait bucket as his fishing pole line rests on the river bottom.

The canvas measures 16 wide x 20 inches long, and is signed, "Marge Gartlan", an unknown artist. The back of the canvas shows some foxing, but none is present on the front, so the painting, itself, is not effected. In the lower left corner (see photo) a very faint and superficial line, beginning above the artist signature and extending toward the gentleman's right calf, is noted- perhaps a rub occurring during storage? It does not detract from the painting.

The painting will require re-framing as it is currently housed in a hastily and poorly painted frame- as it was found- but which, certainly, desires more.

Nonetheless, this oil, as it presently stands, radiates peace and tranquility in nature, and will grace any art or Black Americana collection!

This charming grouping of THREE vintage, wooden, Black Railroad Porter and Mammy clothes brushes were all made in the 1930's by the Rhody Brush Company of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

The two larger brushes have natural bristles, while the small red Mammy has solid red "plastic" brushes. They range in height from the Mammy at 6.5 inches and the Railroad Porter at 8 inches tall, to the smaller Mammy at 4.5 inches tall.

The two larger brushes are priced at $85 each. The small red 4.5" Mammy, is priced at $60.

All three brushes are in very good condition with evidence of having been very lightly used as described below:

Red Railroad Porter(A): small, superficial "dings" to paint here and there, with three teeny specks between the eyes. The majority of paint wear is seen around the bottom of the pedestal that the porter is standing on. The brush bristles are a mix of faint red and natural coloring.

Small Red Mammy(C): paint in excellent condition with only one superficial ding to the paint on her left side. An unusual feature: the black bow painted atop her hat!

Large Green Mammy(B): --paint in very good condition with tiny dings here and there and subtle paint wear to her hat on the right side. Slight bend to bristles, likely due to storage conditions at some point in time. Has a bit of faded green string around her neck which once may have been tied into a bow.

Please note that many of the white spots seen in the photos are light reflections and are NOT areas of missing paint. If one looks closely, the teeny areas of missing paint can be distinguished from the light reflections.

Enter "BRUSH" into the SEARCH BOX to find other Black Americana brushes for sale.

Offered is this early 1930's, LITTLE BLACK SAMBO Book with beautiful illustrations by Phyllis Robinson, a M.A. Donohue Company, Chicago, book publication. Hardcover, 18 unnumbered pages. Curiously, the M.A. Donohue Company, did not always date their publications as is the case here. They, additionally, were not prolific publishers of the Little Black Sambo story book. It is believed that this edition was the company's final publication of this story which was used over a period of ten years up until WWII, with changes only to the cover design. M.A. Donohue's Little Black Sambo books, today, are a very rare find!

This story is a much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two daughters while they lived in India. Sambo, in the original Bannerman tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted to this race overtime, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!

Condition is a 7.5 out of 10! All the wear on this brightly colored hardcover book was absorbed by its cover with wear to book edge points, book cover edges, and splits to the exterior spine. The interior binding is intact and tight as are all pages. No rips, creasing or bends to pages or pen/pencil markings. Illustrations remain very brightly colored and vibrant and are known for their very fine artistry. There is a small spot of brown paint that likely dropped onto the book while it was closed because a tiny remnant of this paint appears on the very edge of each page approximately one inch from the top of the pages (as seen in photos). Interestingly, both the front and back covers are identical in design!

Amazing condition for a nearly 90 year M.A. Donahue Publishers book- a book that is exceedingly difficult to find in today's market!

To see all of the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.

Measuring just 3 inches in length, this unusual 19th century heart cookie cutter is in fine, all-original condition! From the renown, Pennsylvania Robacker Estate, published experts in Pennsylvania Dutch decorative art and culture, who passed away in the 1980's.

No breaks or other damage. A tiny spot of very superficial rust here and there that may be removed, if so desired, by polishing with a clear paste wax.

A sweet accent piece for the country kitchen!

Offered is a wonderful, circa 1920's, John Wyeth apothecary bottle sporting a fancy, shield-shaped, foil label, Elixir Phenobarbitol.

Decorative stock bottles such as this beauty were meant to be refilled and reused and were the pride of the pharmacy staff. Eye-catching, reflective medicine bottles such as these also served as an advertising mechanism as they often were placed prominently in pharmacy windows to attract passers-by.

This 8.5 inch, amber, wide-mouth example reveals ground glass construction and dates to the 1920's era.

The condition of this empty bottle is excellent with only a tiny edge fleck of the back lip. The ground glass stopper cannot be removed and appears perfect. The front label shows light wear and staining commensurate with age and use. Although the label appears silver in the photos, it is more of a GOLD-toned foil. The back label has modest wear and staining.

Offered for sale is a wonderful late 19th century, Victorian drugstore, medical advertising cup. This lovely porcelain mug has “CUDAHY’S REXOMA” printed on the lip. Beautifully hand painted pink roses and other lavender colored flowers adorn the cup on all surfaces.

The Cudahy meat packing industry dates back to the turn of the century. The Cudahy meat industry, with stockyards in Omaha, Chicago, Sioux City and Los Angeles produced the REX brand of fine beef and pork products. They also produced lard, soaps and patent medicine products such as Cudahy's Essence of Pepsin and Cudahy's Rexsoma that used the animal byproducts. The patent medicines were marketed as nutritional supplements for improved health.

This 3.5 inch tall undamaged beauty is in very good condition and very classy indeed!

A terrific image on a lovely cup that can be easily displayed anywhere in your collection.

Entitled "A Chip O' The Old Block", the theme of this 1906 copyrighted lithograph features a derogatory stereotype not recognized as such when it was published 115 years ago. A very young African American toddler, bare-bottomed and still just crawling, is attempting to catch a fleeing hen - the caption implying, just as would his parent. The great irony here is that the artwork is quite skillfully and beautifully executed.

Measuring 8.5" wide x 6.6" long, the original frame is unusually embellished in the lower left hand corner with a very detailed, three-dimensional image of a wicker baby carriage fashioned from an unidentifiable medium. The carriage is missing part of the handle, part of one carriage wheel, and a teeny bit has also been lost on the upper part of that same wheel, but these missing pieces do little to take away from this embellishment's unique character. This is a unique and interesting piece, indeed!

The lithograph measures 5.5" wide x 3.5" long and is signed "Wall" in the grass under the toddler's left foot. The copyright date, 1906, and the publisher, The Ullman Mfg. Co. of New York, appear in the lower right corner. The original backside paper liner is missing.

This is a fully-functional, ready to use vintage 1900 wood and porcelain pestle.

The condition is very good with only signs of mild wear commensurate of a modestly used tool of the trade. No damage or loss, just scruffs and a nice surface patina.

Measures about 10.5 inches long and ready for your collection or use. The #7 is stamped into the edge of porcelain.

A vividly colorful piece, this 1940's vintage, all-original, chalkware Black Mammy memo paper holder measures 9.75 inches high x 5.75 inches wide. This particular color and form is less seldom seen on today's collectible's market!

Mammy's paper memo pad is original to the piece; however, she is missing her original pencil which would slip into the hole in her right hand and down into the broom top to form the broom handle! A present day pencil may be used as a replacement.

Condition is quite good with some tiny, age-related, surface and edge flecks as seen in photos. No repaint, cracks, repairs, no breaks! No maker's mark.

Offered is a rarely seen Patent Medicine from Maine that is in unused, as-found condition and is complete with all of its original components: its wooden mailing tube, its colorful and decorative advertising insert, and its unopened corked bottle with intact label and contents. Simply a home run when considering a Patent medicine find!

The clear glass medicine tube sports a complete, highly decorative label marked "BALM OF TULIPS", "A SURE CURE for COLD SORES", inclusive of use directions, etc, and finally followed by "Dr. ROBINSON - FOXCROFT, Me."

The highly decorative advertising insert is quite colorful and beautifully lithographed adding additional interest to this "cure" medicine. The wooden shipping container has small, difficult to read print stamped upon its side, possibly noting "ROBINSONS SAFETY POSTAL PACKET"?

The bottle measures close to 3.75 inches tall and safely resides in the 5 inch long mailing tube. Dates to the 1880-1890 time period.

This 1970 era, laser cut, Ramada Inn Hotel and Restaurant advertising sign sports patriotically-colored red, white and blue detailing. The sign highlights Ramada's SPECIAL GOLF PACKAGES and its very humorously-named "DUFFERS LOUNGE"! (In golf, a duffer is a mediocre or poor golfer.).

The 2 inch thick wood sign measures 20 inches long by 5.5 inches wide and is in very good condition. The sign has some areas of faint edge splits, minor paint loss and other unobtrusive imperfections commensurate with age and use. The patriotic colors and embossed lettering create a striking display piece. Ready for hanging above your home bar or within your golf memorabilia collection!

Offered is a very scarce, 19th century, strength measuring medical device known as a dynamometer that was manufactured by the G. Tiemann Company, New York, the most renown and respected surgical device manufacturers of the 19th century. Sold in the US by a gymnasium apparatus company out of St. Louis, the Fred Medart Company, the device was designed to assess the strength of the chest, back and legs up to a pull capacity of 1400 lbs.

This fabulous early tool of the medical trade sports a visually-interesting, graphic, brass face with a scale delineating increments from 0 to 1400 pounds. There are 2 dials - one that notes the actual pressure achieved, and the second stationary dial that serves as the reference.

This instrument enjoys wonderful, rich patina on both the metal and wooden sections. It measures 13 inches at the widest point and 10 inches at the wooden handles.

A fabulous device which has great visual appeal and displays wonderfully! Sure to spark some interesting conversation at your next gathering!

Measuring 2 1/8 inches in diameter x 3/8 of an inch high, this rarely-found, circa 1910, dexterity game depicts a smiling Top-Hatted Dandy! The puzzle is quite colorful and is very visually appealing! The puzzle contains the 3 tiny metal balls along with one white ball of unknown material, that, with the proper manual dexterity, are to be placed in the Dandy’s eyes and as buttons on his shirt!

Constructed of tin with a cardboard lithographed image and a glass cover, this game has a mirrored back. The puzzle is in all-original condition with the Dandy graphic remaining free of scratches and abrasions, and design typical of turn-of-the-century puzzles. The mirrored back shows evidence of 2 tiny areas of subtle, minor chipping along the perimeter edge, and the glass front has a small, very shallow surface chip at the base of the Dandy's shirt and an even tinier one to the left of the top hat. Unless one applies hard pressure to the surface of this glass, I cannot ever imagine this front glass breaking or shattering. (Please disregard any light or shiny spots in photos which are due to flash reflection off of the glass.)

A detailed image and a delightful piece of very early Black Memorabilia!

Offered for sale is a fabulous and most colorful, hand-painted Connecticut TIN trade sign from the 1920s – 1930s.

Framed in sturdy wood, this metal sign is hand-painted in stunning blues, whites, and oranges and reads: “JOHN E. MELVIN – PLUMBER – TEL. CONN”.

Measuring approximately 32.5 inches wide x 18 inches high, this vintage tin sign, a most unusual find, has wonderful visual graphic appeal and would add great decorative interest to any room!

The condition of the sign is quite good with lovely patina and appropriate surface wear for its 90+ years of age. Note a small unobtrusive piece of framing missing from the bottom right.

Offered is a hard to find painted cast iron meat and juice press from the late 19th century.

This dual purpose pharmacy tool of the trade measures about 9 inches high and retains much of its original black japanned surface.

Offered is a handsome group of 4 early 20th century vintage, veterinary medicines, and one dated pre-World War II.

First there is the rare, Parke Davis example labeled "AZOA" (rat virus) designed to exterminate mice, rats and other vermin! This unused, circa 1900, product measures 3.25" high and sports complete labels on both the cork and bottle.

The next bottle is the empty GLOVER'S "IMPERIAL MANGE MEDICINE" which also has a graphically-appealing label featuring the handsome profiles of a horse and dog. Embossing is present on three panels of this deep, amber-colored bottle. Very nice!

The third medicine is the very colorful and unused GOMBAULTS "CAUSTIC BALSAM" skin liniment housed in a screw cap bottle, which is marked 1940 on its box. The box is very good and complete while the bottle shows a covering of modest surface film. The colorful box measures 7 inches tall and comes complete with directions for both human and veterinary use!

The fourth offering is the aqua-colored, embossed H.H.H HORSE MEDICINE D.D.T. 1868 and measures 8.25" tall. There various small closed air bubbles, two tiny lip imperfections and a surface scratch on the back.

The final medicine is a very cute bottle embossed "PRATTS VETERINARY LINIMENT PRATT FOOD CO PHILA USA", measuring 5.5" h x 2"W. This aqua-colored bottle is embossed 485 on the bottom, and has numerous tiny, enclosed, air bubbles, mild faint interior staining and six exterior circular stains on the neck. There is no damage to the bottle, and it displays well!

Quite the quintet! WOW!

Measuring a total length of 26 inches including strings, this fabulous, late 1940's, black character marionette is in wonderful, never-played-with condition!

The puppet, itself, is 14 inches tall and is colorfully dressed in blue and white checked pants, red shoes, orange and whit polka dot shirt, straw hat and red patterned neck scarf.

The puppet's face is composition and bears evidence of some age-related crackling as noted in photos. He has a tiny piece if composition missing on the left side of his neck partially covered by his neck scarf, so it is very difficult to notice. He bears a manufacturer stamp on the bottom of his right foot, but it is partial and unreadable. His hands which hold colorful pink straw maracas are a heavy molded plastic.

The puppet is free of stains, dirt and odor. He retains his original black strings and wooden airplane controller!

Offered is an exceedingly unique and unusual, 1939 copyright, Marine, Illinois, 10 page, all-paper (including front and back covers), advertising "Give-Away" pamphlet which tells the complete story of LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. It features both full color and black ink with red accent illustrations. In such near perfect condition, it must never have been read or played with!

The lower back exterior cover reads: "Remember Jos. Pohl & Sons, Inc. and J. I. Case Sales and Service, Marine, Illinois, Dial Phone 2501" as well as "No.528", "Made in USA". On the bottom of the first page, the publisher and copyright date are printed: "MCMXXXIX (1939) Sam'l Gabriel Sons & Company, New York".

Such an unique and very exceptional piece of early 20th-century, Marine, Illinois, historical ephemera!

The story of Little Black Sambo, of course, was to become a much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two daughters while they lived in India. Sambo, in the original Bannerman tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted to this race overtime, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!

Condition is an amazing 9.5 out of 10, for this ALL PAPER PAMPHLET that is now approximately 85 years of age! All pages have been photographed which clearly show condition throughout. The pamphlet is bound together via two rusty staples which remain intact and are firmly holding all pages and the covers together. All of the very colorful illustrations remain quite bright and vibrant. Measures approximately 5.25 inches wide x 7.25 inches tall.

Amazing condition for an 85 year old, paper advertising story pamphlet that clearly was never enjoyed by a young child - and one that may very well be the only copy remaining in existence! For the collector and lover of the tale of Little Black Sambo, this is a must-have!

To see the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.

Offered is a near-mint, 1935, 2nd edition of Helen Bannerman's, original Little Black Sambo story, accompanied by five additional and delightful Little Black Sambo stories by noted author and illustrator Frank Ver Beck. Published by the Platt & Munk Company of New York which was renown for hiring highly talented artists and illustrators- of which Frank Ver Beck was one -all of whom contributed to the company's reputation for publishing exquisitely illustrated children's books.

The first story, illustrated by Frank Ver Beck, is the much-beloved children's classic written and illustrated in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two daughters while they lived in India. Sambo, in the original Bannerman tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted to this race overtime, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!

The following five stories written and illustrated by Frank Ver Beck follow Helen Bannerman's original tale, all featuring Little Black Sambo and his encounters with a variety of different animals, from a Baby Elephant and a Tiger Kitten, to Monkeys, Bears and Crocodiles! Each of Ver Beck's tales were originally published as individual mini-size books, which today, are extremely difficult to come by and are quite expensive to acquire if found. Ver Beck's stories are as delightful as Helen Bannerman's original, and publishing them all together in one single volume proved to be a successful marketing strategy for Platt & Munk. His illustrations are detailed, highly imaginative and just delightful! Representative photos are offered from each of the six stories.

De-accessioned from a school library (the name of the school inside the front cover is indecipherable), this 88 year old book is in wonderful, near mint condition! The only flaws are light soiling to the exterior covers, with subtle edge wear to cover end points and two, teeny indentations into the covers- one on the front cover at the middle top and the second to the back cover at the middle bottom. Both are quite unremarkable. Just fabulous condition!!! A must-have for the lover of Little Black Sambo stories!

To see all of the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.

Offered are two, desirable, circa 1910 era, smooth face, hickory shaft golf clubs made in Scotland. Although smooth face golf clubs fell out of fashion and perhaps function by the very early 1900s, they were still offered in catalogues for a number of years beyond this date.

The first club is stamped "J. NICHOLLS - SPECIAL - MASHIE" and measures 34" from the heel to the top of the shaft. The second club is stamped "J. KENNEDY - SPECIAL - MASHIE" and measures 37.5 inches from the top of the club to the heel.

Both clubs have leather grips, straight hickory shafts and sport nice aged patina on the hickory shaft and the metal clubs.

There are various small leading edge dings and examples of wear on both of the clubs that are commensurate with their use and 110+ years of age. Both clubs are very likely of Scottish origin based upon the style and construction of very similar clubs found in reference sources.

Offered is an extraordinarily rare, 1842, Warren County, Georgia, Apprehension Order for a SLAVE boy named Henry who is accused of committing a violent assault and battery with intent to kill.

The single page, 16" x 25" document was folded in half by its author, and the charge is written out on one side of the folded page and then completed on the back of the same side of the page (see photos). The folded page was then flipped over, folded into fourths, and the title of the charge was written out: "The State VS Henry Negro Boy Slave".

The text of the charge reads as follows, Paragraph one:
"Georgia Warren County"
"Before me Matthew Sheilds a justice of the peace for said county, personally came Stephen Blount who being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that according to the best of his knowledge and belief Henry a negro boy slave the property of the estate of Hardy Pitts late of said county deceased, did commit a violent assault and battery with intent to kill Deponent, with a heavy stick - and Deponent believes said stick was ferreled (an action suggestive of a wild beast)- upon the person of Deponent - on this night of the thirteenth of this Instant in said county of Warren to wit upon the plantation of Thomas Persons, near Warrenton.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th March 1842."
"Matthew Sheilds JP"
"Stephen Blount"

Paragraph two:
"Georgia Warren County"
"By Matthew Sheilds one of the Justices To Sheriff the Constables of Said County and to all other lawful officers for as much as Stephen Blount who being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that according to the best of his knowledge and belief Henry a Negro boy Slave the property of the estate of Hardy Pitts late of Said County deceased did commit a violent assault and battery with intent to kill Deponent - with a heavy stick and Deponent believes said stick was ferreled upon the person of Deponent on the night of the thirteenth of this Instant...." (continued next page)

Next Page:
"in Said County of Warren to wit on the plantation of Thomas Persons near Warrenton. These are therefore to Command you that you apprehend the Said Negro Boy Henry and bring him before me or some other Justice of the peace of Said County to Answer the said charge and to be further dealt with according to Law Herein fail not. Given under my hand and Seal this 14th day of March 1842."
"Matthew Sheilds JP" (JP written a second time and encircled in a squiggle to simulate a wax seal)

Condition of this very unique slavery document is quite fine given its 180 years of age. Expected aging of paper with insignificant and minor tears at creases. Also present are three long spillages of ink (as seen in photos) which likely occurred at the time this document was written out with, obviously, no intention of the author to start over again and rewrite!

An extraordinarily rare historical document that defines a specific slave-related incident.

Offered is the 1955 edition of Helen Bannerman's, Little Black Sambo book published by the Platt & Munk Company of New York and illustrated by one of P & M's noted artists, Eulalie. The Platt & Munk Company was renown for hiring highly talented artists and illustrators, all of whom who contributed to the company's reputation for publishing exquisitely illustrated children's books.

This story is a much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two daughters while they lived in India. Sambo, in the original Bannerman tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted to this race overtime, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!

In utterly excellent condition with the only flaws noted to this hardcover book being extremely minor corner edge wear, it also comes with its original dust cover which has been subjected to significant wear and tear as seen in photos: a missing piece, taped edges, scuffs, light soiling, and minor tears. The dust cover shows its 65 years of age while the book, itself, is nearly mint.

Both the black and white as well as color illustrations are just superb! Unnumbered pages alternate between color and black line illustrations.

A must have addition for the collector of Little. Black Sambo books!

To see all of the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.

A very RARE and highly appealing Black Memorabilia Advertising Die cut!

Marked "Copyright 1924", in the lower left hand corner, this extremely hard-to-find advertising piece measures 10.5 inches wide x 13.5 inches high. Colorful and visually interesting, the heavy cardboard die cut depicts an engaging Uncle Wabash serenely strumming his banjo on his front porch! Guess the message to the consumer was, "Eat one of Uncle Wabash's cupcakes to experience your own little slice of heaven and serenity!"

Condition of this charming piece of Black Historical ephemera is quite good given its nearly 100+ years of age!! Old water staining to bottom of the die cut does little to detract from the piece. Crease line to one cupcake edge. Appropriate age-related foxing to back.

Entitled "A Little Colored Boy and Other Stories, this extremely scarce, small folio book was the property of Reverend J. H. Jackson, pastor of the Greenburg, Indiana, A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopalian) Church.

The book contains lovely black ink line drawings and etchings which accompany a great variety of wonderful short stories for children designed to teach strong moral values, attitudes and behaviors. The story, A Little Colored Boy, is the first and the longest tale in the book. Undoubtedly, Reverend Jackson often used this book in teaching the congregation's children their Sunday school lessons.

The book is inscribed in faded blue ink inside the front cover as follows: "Rev. J. H. Jackson Book. Pastor Greenburg Indiana's A.M.E Church".

Published by the Abingdon Press of Cincinnati and New York, the book contains no publishing date. However, it was likely published in the late 1890's as one story references President Grover Cleveland's eldest child who was born in 1891: "Little Ruth Cleveland, when she was the baby of the White House,..."

President Cleveland served two separate presidential terms of four years each from 1885-1889 and again from 1893- 1897. It is highly likely that this book was published during Cleveland's 2nd term of office or shortly thereafter when the populace would have been well familiar with "Little Ruth", who was popularly known as "Baby Ruth".

The book measures 4.5"x 6.5" and contains over 30 little stories within its 64 pages. Hardcover, the book is in amazing condition for its age, an 8 out of 10. The cloth-bound cover has minimal wear with only one 1/4' long split on the rear binding and some staining certainly commensurate with its 120+ years of age. The binding and pages are tight. Some minor, age-related staining here and there throughout the book, with one page noted as having a tiny tear at its top.

A highly unusual find!

Offered are a fabulous variety grouping of VERY RARELY FOUND, 1880's, Black Americana die cuts printed in Germany and sold by the Bim Brothers, London.

The assortment features die cuts of musicians, jugglers, a boxer, actors, a bagpipe player, comically portrayed African natives, and die cut heads of adults as well as die cut heads of children. All but the four African die cuts remain connected as a grouping, just as they were when originally produced and shipped from the factory- a very rare find which increases each grouping's value.

The products for which these die cuts were meant to endorse is unknown. The die cuts feature an embossed, glossy finish which compliments the beautiful detailing and intense coloring of each piece. All would look fabulous either framed individually or as a grouping!

Approximate measurements are as follows:
The 2 standing, connected figures: 3.25" tall x 4.50" wide
Connected Adult Heads: 2.25" tall x 3.75" wide
Connected children Heads: .75" tall x 4.50" wide
4 African loose figures: 2" tall x 1" wide

Please note that any white specks that seem prominent in the closeup photos are the result of light bouncing off the surfaces of the aged die cuts. These pieces are approximately 140 years old, and while in very good condition given their age, tiny surface imperfections may be evident here and there. The photo of the verso of all reveals that no repairs or restorations were made to any of the die cuts in this offering.

This entire grouping of die cuts is being sold as one single offering at $55.00.

This vintage 1920's Austrian, cast iron figural group is an authentic piece that was carefully hand-painted some 100 years ago! Austrian pieces of this era were known for their fine craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The darling boy and girl seated on a tree stump measures 2 3/8 inches high. With the exception of the girl's missing right leg, this seldom-found piece is in overall fine condition with age-related paint scrapes here and there. (please see all photos)

A very unusual and interesting figure group that displays exceedingly well!

This is a very nice example of a Lowell, Massachusetts, patent medicine complete with box.

The 8.5 inch bottle is in fine condition and sports a label only on the side panel because it is embossed on the remaining three sides. The bottle label is almost complete with modest staining from content leakage.

This medicine retains its original, very decorative box which notes a 1915 date-- apparently when this "new" box was first introduced to the public in August of that year. The box is complete and in good condition noting modest content stain, mostly on the left panel.

Ayer's Sarsaparilla was actually a quack medicine first introduced in the mid 19th century, with no real evidence of therapeutic value, and in that regard, quite similar to many other medicines of that era. Sarsaparilla, J.C. Ayer's most popular product, was cited as a real blessing to humanity in that it purified the blood, stimulated the vital functions, restored and preserved health, and infused new life and vigor throughout the whole system!! Sarsaparilla was also recommended for jaundice, dyspepsia, pimples, boils, ringworm, female weaknesses and ‘lassitude and debility peculiar to the Spring.'

Offered is a circa 1910, original piece of art entitled "Who Said Watermelons". This captivating charcoal on paper portrait of a young African American boy, very much resembles the iconic, fictional figure painted by an unknown artist in the mid 1800's, a figure who has come to be known as 'Johnny Griffin' or the 'Young Black boy with the Torn Hat'.

Measuring just 7 inches wide x 9 inches high, this unsigned piece is very skillfully executed accomplishing a three-dimensional sense of depth through the expert use of light and dark, while capturing the intriguing expression on this young boy's face. Just what is he thinking?

Was this enchanting charcoal portrait completed as a study in preparation for a final, more complex piece, or was it, indeed, the final execution of a subject caught in passing?

Condition is quite fine. Note the faint trace of the artist's title for this work done in a lighter charcoal hiding behind the darker, final printing of the title. Framed in an old black wooden frame, this intriguing charcoal portrait would benefit from professional framing using archival, acid-free materials to enhance its life for many years to come.

Offered is a very rare, highly ornate and meticulously detailed, 1887, medicine advertising mirror made for the G.G. Green Pharmaceutical Manufacturer of Woodbury, New Jersey. It features 3 PATENT MEDICINES, patent-owned and offered by Surgeon, Colonel G.G. Green. (brief Bio below)

This gorgeous advertising mirror was gifted to select pharmacists who were required to sign a contract promising to consistently offer the particular Green's medicines that were imprinted on the mirror's frame: Green's August Flower, Ague Conqueror, and Boschee's German Syrup.

The frame measures 21" square with an elaborately embellished decorative face of embossed detailing and is constructed of a plaster-based material. The name "G.G. Green, Woodbury, NJ" is prominently embossed on the bottom portion of the frame.

The frame's construction remains quite sturdy. The overall condition is good with some restoration required, if so desired, to the missing pieces as seen in the photos. The missing pieces cause minimal distraction from the beauty, intricacy and rarity of this frame. The mirror had been replaced at some point prior to our ownership.

A brief biography: Colonel George Gill Green served as a Union surgeon during the Civil War and later became a manufacturer of patent medicines. He reached millionaire status after buying the rights to Ague Conqueror, Boschee's German Syrup and Green's August Flower and then, successfully marketing their use. A local philanthropist, he provided the funding for the construction of Woodbury's Opera House. He also built the G.G. Green Manufacturing building, and both structures are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Offered is a scarce POISON bottle that sports great images of an elk with an honorable rack. The bottle on the right is not available.

The 3 sided label is complete with minor loss, imperfections and fading as seen in the images. The bottle is undamaged and measures approximately 3.5 inches tall x 1 inch wide and include an orange colored cork. There is minimal interior hazing.

The front of the label is marked "ELK BRAND - LIQUID CARBOLIC ACID". The left side is marked "POISON" in bold letters and includes the antidote. The right side has another wonderful elk head image. It states "Mfg. by ELK MFG CO." Jellico, Tenn. The bottle dates to the 1930 era.

Jellico was once a thriving coal mining town during the late 19th century. Info on the Elk Mfg Co is scarce and the bottle such as this example is equally rare. One can find Elk brand tins etc. but bottle is scarce.

This extremely colorful, lighthearted, and energetic, signed, fine quality, Limited Edition, giclee print depicts a lively outdoor dining scene full of gaiety and camaraderie.

The image, itself, measures 32" long x 24" wide, while the framed artwork in total measures 41" long x 32.5" wide. The giclee print was framed using museum-quality, acid-free double-mat board and backing materials, within a fine quality solid wood frame and topped with non-glare glass. This artwork was purchased directly from artist, Kelvin W. Henderson, it was signed by him at the time of our purchase, and it cheerily hung in our dining room for ten years!

The artwork is actually brighter in color than my camera was able to capture- closeups appear a bit "darker" than reality. Condition is absolutely perfect! And its presence---well, it will command one's attention hanging on an entire wall-space all by itself! It is, as stated earlier, a Limited Edition giclee lithograph-- Number 18 of a 150 Limited Edition series, with an additional 50 canvas editions. The provenance of this piece with all details is attached on the back side of the artwork as seen in one of our photos. A buoyant and effervescent piece of art!

As this piece exceeds typical shipping criteria in terms of dimensional size and weight, we regret that we cannot offer free shipping. We will provide a $25 shipping credit, but the remaining cost of shipping will rest upon the purchaser.

Offered is a very difficult-to-find, large grouping of twenty one, 19th century, porcelain, matching apothecary cabinet drawer pulls, priced at $45 for each pull.

Each pull measures approximately 1.4"W x 1.3"H x 1" front to back (not including bolt). (Please note- "INULA HELEN" is sold.)

The condition of the pulls is very good with only a few minor manufacturing imperfections that add to the desired patina of an antique of this age and period. The decorative gold embellishments painted above and below the medicinal labeling of each pull show moderate loss, primarily "use-wear", due to decades of continual handling over their 140+ years of age. Please note that the "TEREBINT" pull has a rear chip as noted in the individual, close-up photo.

The pulls each sport the following maker's mark on the bottom of the knob: "PAT. FEB 12, 89 - M.D.B. CO. - ST. LOUIS, MO", although on some of the pulls, this marking has been illegibly applied.

Ready for display in your apothecary collection or for retro-chic decorating use on an actual cabinet, be it antique or contemporary!

Professionally framed in an intricate, antique-look, gold gilt molding with museum quality, acid-free mat and mounting materials, this 1840, hand-colored map of Germany, Switzerland, and Northern Italy will be well-preserved for many, many years to come!

Photography was a challenge in an attempt to avoid flash reflections. As such, please note that the rich coloring- violet, yellow, green and gray- is even throughout the map.

All print and map detailing is clean and easily read. Some minimal foxing and age staining to map do not detract from the visual appeal of this piece. Framed map measures 12 3/4" wide x 15 1/2" long.

Offered is a fabulous, very early example of Tramp Art- a style of woodworking which emerged in America in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Tramp Art features the use of multiple, small pieces of wood that are whittled into layers of geometric shapes whose outside edges are then notch-carved.

This exquisite example exemplifies the early years of Tramp Art at a time when it was practiced largely by skilled craftsmen with artistic talents. Pieces from this era feature a more multi-layered, detailed technique using hard wood bases as opposed to the thin cigar box wood bases prevalent during the early 20th century through the Depression years.

This wonderful, approximate 140 year old piece features multi-layered exterior framing on all sides as well as the box cover; framing which then envelopes amazing pyramidal shapes of all sides.

The box interior is covered in a vibrant floral wallpaper, and it features a small 1.75 inch x 2 inch framed mirror on the underside of the box lid. Likely made for a female given its interior design and decoration, the box also features a functional lock with original key, to safeguard jewels and important mementos.

Measures 8.75 inches wide x 8 inches deep x 6.75 inches high. In very good condition and retaining its original finish! A few missing notch pyramid tips here and there. Just lovely!

Offered is a wonderful 1920-1930s era Asthma Remedy bottle labeled HIMROD'S REMEDY. This lovely nostrum sports bright colored graphics and includes full contents and image of the debonair Mr. Himrod.

The condition is very good with the expected wear and minor scuffs and imperfections of a vintage piece.

There is even a high profile testimonial on the top box label from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes who claimed this medicine to be "the best thing in my experience" etc.

Measures 4.5 inches tall.